The Exelon Generation portfolio is unique in its diversity of geography, markets, fuels and technologies and includes:
- Nation’s largest commercial nuclear fleet, which ensures dependable low-carbon baseload (around-the-clock) power supply
- Wide range of company-owned fossil, hydroelectric and renewable facilities, to diversify our fuel mix and help meet peak demand periods
- Mix of dispatchable generating-unit supply contracts to supplement owned generation as needed
- Nuclear
- Hydro
- Solar
- Wind
- Landfill Gas
- Fossil
Exelon Generation is heavily invested in low-carbon nuclear energy, operating the largest nuclear fleet in the nation and the third largest fleet in the world.
- With 10 generating power plants and 17 reactors - located in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey - Exelon Generation produces enough clean-air nuclear energy to power millions of homes.
- Nuclear power plants emit virtually no greenhouse gases and supply about 20% of the nation’s electricity needs.
Exelon Generation owns Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station and the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility which together produce more than 1,600 MW of hydroelectric power.
- Water flow from the Susquehanna River powers Conowingo’s 11 turbine generators, which produce 572 MW - enough energy to power more than 400,000 homes.
- Muddy Run pumps water into a reservoir during off-peak hours and uses that water to generate electricity during peak demand hours. The facility produces over 1,000 MW.
Exelon Generation has agreements to purchase approximately 4 MW of solar power, the total output from two new solar facilities in Pennsylvania, and is building a new solar plant in Chicago.
- The 3 MW Exelon-Conergy Solar Energy Center, one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar installations in the United States, began commercial operations in December 2008.
- The second site, to be built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, will go online in 2010.
- Exelon has invested $62 million to partner with SunPower Corp. to convert an abandoned industrial site on Chicago’s South Side into the nation’s largest urban solar power plant. The 41-acre project will generate enough emission-free electricity to power 1,200 to 1,500 homes per year.
Exelon Generation owns and operates 37 wind projects which are capable of generating 825 MW. In addition, Exelon Generation is the largest wholesale marketer of wind energy east of the Mississippi, with agreements to purchase more than 350 MW of wind power.
- Exelon Generation’s 37 owned and operated wind projects are located in eight states.
- Exelon Generation has long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with five wind generation projects in Illinois, Pennsylvania and West Virginia with a total capacity of 352 MW.
Exelon Generation owns one landfill gas power plant and purchases power from another.
- Fairless Hills Generating Station in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania has 2 units that use landfill gas from 2 local landfills as its primary fuel source to produce 60 MW of electricity inside the USX Industrial Complex.
- Exelon buys power from a Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania solid waste facility that produces 24 MW.
Exelon Generation’s fossil portfolio consists of over 6,000 MW of capacity produced by coal, oil and natural gas power plants.
Generation Operating Companies
Exelon Generation is comprised of two primary business units—Exelon Nuclear and Exelon Power.
- Exelon Nuclear operates the largest fleet of nuclear power plants in the nation and the third largest fleet in the world.
- Exelon Power is responsible for managing, operating, and maintaining the company’s fossil (coal, oil, and natural gas), landfill gas, hydro, wind and solar-powered fleet of generating assets. With generating assets located in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Texas, Exelon Power can provide over 8,000 MW of safe, efficient and environmentally responsible baseload, intermediate and peak power generation.
Exelon Generation’s environmental vision mirrors that of its parent company, Exelon, to constantly improve our environmental performance. All operating companies are committed to setting measurable goals, achieving credible results and implementing cost-effective environmental improvements.
Environmental Commitment
In 2008, Exelon set a goal to reduce energy consumption in its commercial facilities by 25 percent and in its power plants by 7% by the year 2012 (from a 2001 baseline). By the end of 2009, we had reduced energy use at our commercial facilities by 23.8% and auxiliary power use at our plants by 6.6%. These energy reductions correspond to a total GHG emissions reduction of nearly 145,000 metric tons.
As part of Exelon 2020, Exelon Generation has reduced energy use at our facilities through a variety of projects including:
- An extensive building renovation at the Conowingo Visitor Center, including a 3.2 kilowatt solar array, earning it LEED-Existing Building Gold Certification
- Replacement of a 45-year-old lighting system at the Fairless Hills Generating Station, resulting in an 80% energy savings per year
- Extensive lighting replacements at power plants; and
- Continuation of the work of the Kennett Square Environmental Council, which drove a number of initiatives including shuttle service between Philadelphia and Kennett Square, electric and water reduction best practices and recycling programs.
Learn more about Exelon’s environmental and business strategy, Exelon 2020.
Performance
At Exelon, our goals are to capitalize on environmental leadership and low-carbon nuclear energy and to run our nuclear fleet at world-class levels. Exelon Generation’s operating excellence is central to our continuing success.
- Optimizing Clean-Air Generation: Exelon’s nuclear fleet achieved an average capacity factor of 93.9% in 2010, the eighth consecutive year it exceeded 93%. We produced about 140 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity while emitting virtually no greenhouse gases (GHG).
- Investing in Reliable Operations: Exelon Power’s fleet of fossil and hydroelectric units in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas provided nearly 11 million MWh of reliable generation in 2010.
Safety
All Exelon facilities employ sophisticated emergency response plans to protect public health and safety. These plans are reviewed and approved by state governments and federal agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The emergency planning includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.
Community Investment
Our power plants aim to be good neighbors within their local communities with active involvement through sponsorships, charitable giving and volunteering. They sponsor local events to support the environment, education, the arts and diversity. We encourage our employees to give back to their communities and we recognize their efforts through various programs such as matched gifts and volunteer grants to the organizations they serve.
Learn more about Exelon’s Community.